University of Essex

SC291-5-SP-CO:
Sociology of Sexualities

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Sociology and Criminology

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 13 January 2025

End date: Friday 21 March 2025

Credits: 15

Last updated: 20 June 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

The prime concern of this module is to provide an introduction to sexuality studies. A theoretical background of constructionism will be used. Term two looks at contemporary developments through citizenship, globalisation, heteronormativity, and gender.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:

to consider the sociologically significant developments around the study of sexuality, rights and citizenship, including changes in lesbian and gay equality.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

Gain an insight into sociology of sexualities.

Module information

Provisional Overview:

Introducing Queer Theory

Sexuality and feminism

Queering Kinship: Rethinking Transgression

Sexing Citizenship: Sexual Dissidence and the Nation-Stat

Homo Economics: Sexuality, Employment and the Pink Economy

Sexuality and Space: Beyond the Queer Metropolis

The Heteronormative Gaze: Contemporary Queer Representations

Sexuality and Globalization

Researching Sexualities: Notes from the Field

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be taught in the format of a weekly lecture followed by a class. In the first session we will develop our arrangements for work during the term. Typically there will be a lecture followed by a discussion and some student presentations.

Bibliography

Aggleton, P. (ed.) (2012) Understanding global sexualities: new frontiers. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=473893.
Plummer, K. (2003) Intimate citizenship: private decisions and public dialogues. Seattle: University of Washington Press. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt130hj4x.
Fischer, N. and Seidman, S. (eds) (2016a) Introducing the new sexuality studies. Third edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1271655.
Sullivan, N. (2003a) A critical introduction to queer theory. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctvxcrwj6.
Siân A. Williams and Harri Shanahan (dirs.) (2021) ‘Rebel Dykes’. Available at: https://login.learningonscreen.ac.uk/wayfless.php?entityID=https%3A%2F%2Fidp0.essex.ac.uk%2Fshibboleth&target=https%3A%2F%2Flearningonscreen.ac.uk%2Fondemand%2Findex.php%2Fprog%2F3BF82F1B%3Fbcast%3D136999591.
Sarah Myland (dir.) (2022) ‘Private View’. Available at: https://panopto.essex.ac.uk/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=fbb018e2-c7cd-4201-9ad5-b12b00a5f818.
Carlomusto, J. and Carlomusto (dir.), J. (2022) ‘Esther Newton Made Me Gay’. Available at: https://panopto.essex.ac.uk/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=3452beb4-a7ee-4c6c-9724-b0b900b9c511.
Ryan-Flood, R. and Tooth Murphy, A. (eds) (2024) Queering desire: lesbians, gender, and subjectivity. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2535282.
Seidman, S., Fischer, N. and Meeks, C. (2006) Handbook of the new sexuality studies. London: Routledge. Available at: https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9780203963081.
Richardson, D., McLaughlin, J. and Casey, M.E. (2006) Intersections between feminist and queer theory. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=194617.
McCann, H. and Monaghan, W. (2019) Queer Theory Now. 1st ed. 2020. Macmillan Education UK. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6234860.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Essay 1	20/03/2025	50%
Coursework	Essay 2	24/04/2025	50%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Prof Roisin Ryan-Flood, email: rflood@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Róisín Ryan-Flood

Contact details: Email: socugrad@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Dr Paul Gilbert

Institution: University of Sussex

Academic role: Senior Lecturer in International Development

Name: Dr Emily Gray

Institution: University of Warwick

Academic role: Assistant Professor of Criminology

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

Further information

Department website: Sociology and Criminology

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Module Directory

SC291-5-SP-CO:Sociology of Sexualities